UPDATED: Jeter makes a short stop to Staten Island and St. George ballpark prior to minor-league game (photos)

Derek Jeter’s long trip back to the Bronx had one last stop, and that was a surprise visit to Staten Island on Saturday morning.

The future Hall of Famer missed the New York Yankees’ first 91 games of the season with a broken ankle first suffered in the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers last fall, and then reinjured it during spring training in Tampa. When he returned to the lineup as the designated hitter on July 11, he strained a quad running to first base and found himself right back on the disabled list.

Yankee manager Joe Girardi hopes to have Jeter back in the lineup Sunday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays. To confirm Jeter’s readiness, the club had the shortstop play a simulated game at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark in St. George prior to Staten Island’s 3-2 loss to the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Staten Island team president Jane Rogers had a few hours notice that the franchise’s all-time hits leader was on his way.

“Player development called this morning about 9 and said that Derek and Brian Cashman would be over around noon and they’d be over for a short time, about two hours, and that it was private and wasn’t open to the public,” said Rogers.

The workout ran about 90 minutes, according to Rogers. In addition to Cashman, former Staten Island manager Pat McMahon and former New York hitting coach Gary Denbo were on hand.

Jeter took eight at-bats, ran the bases and fielded his position. Afterward, said Rogers, he graciously signed some autographs for items the club will use for charitable purposes.

“It was quick,” said Rogers. “He was friendly. He came in, loved the ballpark.”

The Staten Island players were arriving to begin their work day in preparation for the 7 p.m. start against Brooklyn while Jeter was going through his workout.

“Everyone was out there kind of watching,” said Staten Island manager Justin Pope. “So it was good for those guys to see what Derek Jeter does, the work and what it takes to play 16-plus whatever years in the big leagues that he’s been doing all these years. It was good for these guys to see.”

Pope took part in the session, playing catch with Jeter and then playing some first base while Jeter took grounders. The organization chose Stefan Lopez, a 22-year-old second-year pro, to pitch to the franchise icon.

“It was just like any other day,” said Lopez. “I mean, obviously it was interesting because of who it was. But, we each have our job to do. He was here to get at-bats. I’m here to throw pitches.”

Lopez estimated he threw about 30 pitches in the session. Pope said the right-hander, who has a 0.89 earned run average in 11 appearances this season, threw strikes and performed well.

“I did pretty good,” said Lopez. “I did fine. There’s stipulations to throwing. We try to stay away from him, from making any kind of contact with him. He’s Derek Jeter. You’ve got to be careful. You want to throw well, but you don’t want to take a chance of hitting him.”

While Jeter’s visit broke up the routine, the evening’s result was all-too familiar. It was the sixth straight loss and ninth in the last 10 games for the Baby Bombers. And considering the three Yankee pitchers — Rookie Davis, Sam Agnew-Wieland and Andury Acevedo — did not allow a single earned run, it really never should have happened.

The Yankees took a 2-1 lead in the fifth as Jose Rosario singled home Isaias Tejeda and Brandon Thomas singled home Rosario. It was a welcome rally after the Yanks had left the bases loaded in the third and then been struck out in order in the fourth.

The lead came undone with some shoddy fielding in the seventh. Agnew-Wieland should have been out of the inning with a two-out grounder, but Derek Toadvine’s error put Colton Plaia on base. No. 9 hitter Juan Gamboa singled and when Patrick Biondi’s basehit to left got past Daniel Lopez for another error and scooted down the line, both runners scored.

“It’s kind of a feeling of, ‘when is it gonna happen?’ ” said Pope of the miscues. “Just gotta find a way to get out of it.”

Jeter is the latest New York Yankee to take advantage of the Staten Island ballpark’s proximity while preparing to return from an injury. Like Jeter, pitcher Phil Hughes worked out in a simulated game scenario, according to Rogers. Nine other Yankee pitchers, among them Orlando (El Duque) Hernandez, have taken the mound for the Staten Island Yanks in a New York-Penn League game as part of a rehab assignment.

“We welcome the opportunity, but it’s not up to us,” said Rogers. “That’s a decision that’s up to Mr. Cashman and player development where they go. We’re always ready.”

NOTES: The Yanks sort of play a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday. They’ll start by completing the June 25 game against Aberdeen that was suspended in the fifth inning when power went out in the ballpark. The regularly scheduled game will then be a seven-inning affair.